Lux delights in Double-A debut
It might not have looked like it, but Gavin Lux knew he wasn't in the California League anymore."No, I noticed right away," the sixth-ranked Dodgers prospect said about his Double-A debut Thursday. "Pitchers execute pitches better, they go after your weakness. The games are cleaner. I noticed right away."But that
It might not have looked like it, but
"No, I noticed right away," the sixth-ranked Dodgers prospect said about his Double-A debut Thursday. "Pitchers execute pitches better, they go after your weakness. The games are cleaner. I noticed right away."
But that couldn't be told from his performance. Lux homered, singled twice and drove in two runs to lead Tulsa past Arkansas, 5-1, at ONEOK Field.
The No. 20 pick in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft hit .244 in 2017 at Class A Great Lakes, amassing a .260 average in the second half with six homers. He continued that momentum when he moved up to Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga this year.The Wisconsin native batted .324/.396/.520 in 88 games with the Quakes and mashed 11 homers after belting seven in 434 at-bats last season.
"I think I'm using my lower half more, but also I'm getting a little stronger," Lux said. "It's just approach too, and like I said, it's getting that pitch I like and trying not to miss it. You've got to capitalize on mistakes. ... I wouldn't say 'launch angle', but I am definitely trying to hit the ball in the air more."
He was promoted to Tulsa on Wednesday, and leading off Thursday, the 20-year-old quickly showed he wasn't intimidated. He singled to start the game against
Gameday box score
Lux lined out to second base in the second inning and then smacked a single into right in the fourth.
The left-handed hitter muscled up in the sixth, ripping a ball over the wall in right for a two-run homer. With a chance at his third career four-hit game, he struck out looking in the eighth.
Lux said he didn't do anything different in his first start in the Texas League.
"No, I don't think it changed," he said about his approach. "I still looked for the same pitches that I know I can drive, but when you get down 0-2, it's fight or flight, and you just kind of grind it out."
The shortstop knows even with his promotion, there's still work to do. He's batting .343/.417/.559 against right-handed pitchers, but .230/.288/.328 against southpaws.
"That's kind of my biggest challenge," Lux said. "I feel way more comfortable against righties because I've had way more at-bats off them, but every time I get a lefty, I look at it as a challenge. I got straight into two-strike mode, but it's definitely something I'm still working on."
For Arkansas, top-ranked Mariners prospect
Vince Lara-Cinisomo is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincelara.